Drug trafficker caught at OR Tambo Airport
A 29-year-old man from Latvia has made his first appearance on Monday, May 22 in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court after he was caught red handed with drugs worth R2.15 million at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA).
“It is alleged that the suspect was travelling from Brazil to Johannesburg in South Africa and on arrival, he was escorted to Customs for processing after he had been refused entrance into the country by the Department of Home Affairs. His bag was searched by Customs officers and they found cocaine soaked and dried into the traveller’s rug weighing 8.6 kilograms worth approximately R2.15 million,” explained police spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase.
The traveller was immediately apprehended by a multidisciplinary team which includes Crime Intelligence Head Office, State Security OR Tambo, SARS Detector Dog Unit, Department of Home Affairs, Hawks East Rand and Head Office teams. The drugs were seized for further investigation.
“The Latvian man abandoned his bail application today and the case was postponed to 31 August for further investigation,” Colonel Nkwalase confirmed.